Difference between revisions of "Comparing "yihou" and "zhihou""

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If you are trying to explain what you did after a certain event, you might want to use "以后" (yǐhòu) or "之后" (zhīhòu). After all, they do both mean "after," right? Well, it turns out that there are a few rules that you need to be aware of before you use them.  
 
If you are trying to explain what you did after a certain event, you might want to use "以后" (yǐhòu) or "之后" (zhīhòu). After all, they do both mean "after," right? Well, it turns out that there are a few rules that you need to be aware of before you use them.  
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
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Subj. + Special Time + 以后/之后 + Verb
Subj. + Special Time + 以后/之后 + Action
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 下 过 雨 <em>以后</em>/ <em>之后</em> 空气 会 好 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Xià guo yǔ <em>yǐhòu</em> /<em> zhīhòu</em> kōngqì huì hǎo hěn duō.</span> <span class="trans">After it rains, the air will be a lot better.</span>
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* 下 过 雨 <em>以后</em>/ <em>之后</em> 空气 会 好 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Xià guo yǔ <em>yǐhòu</em> /<em> zhīhòu</em> kōngqì huì hǎo hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">After it rains, the air will be a lot better.</span>
* 结婚 <em>以后</em>/ <em>之后</em>他们 有 了 两 个 宝宝 。 <span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn <em>yǐhòu</em> /<em> zhīhòu</em> tāmen yǒu le liǎng gè bǎobǎo.</span> <span class="trans">After getting married, they had two babies.</span>
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* 结婚 <em>以后</em>/ <em>之后</em>他们 有 了 两 个 宝宝 。 <span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn <em>yǐhòu</em> /<em> zhīhòu</em> tāmen yǒu le liǎng gè bǎobǎo.</span><span class="trans">After getting married, they had two babies.</span>
* 等 我 涨 工资 <em>以后</em>/ <em>之后</em>请 你 吃饭 。 <span class="pinyin">Děng wǒ zhǎng gōngzī <em> yǐhòu</em> /<em> zhīhòu</em> qǐng nǐ chīfàn.</span> <span class="trans">After I get a raise, I will treat you to a meal.</span>
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* 等 我 涨 工资 <em>以后</em>/ <em>之后</em>请 你 吃饭 。 <span class="pinyin">Děng wǒ zhǎng gōngzī <em> yǐhòu</em> /<em> zhīhòu</em> qǐng nǐ chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">After I get a raise, I will treat you to a meal.</span>
* 听到 这 个 消息 <em>以后</em>/ <em>之后</em> ,我 高兴 得 一 晚 上 没 睡 。 <span class="pinyin">Tīngdào zhè gè xiāoxi <em> yǐhòu</em> /<em> zhīhòu</em>, wǒ gāoxìng de yī wǎn shàng méi shuì.</span> <span class="trans">After I heard this news, I was so happy I couldn't sleep the whole night.</span>
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* 听到 这 个 消息 <em>以后</em>/ <em>之后</em> ,我 高兴 得 一 晚 上 没 睡 。 <span class="pinyin">Tīngdào zhè gè xiāoxi <em> yǐhòu</em> /<em> zhīhòu</em>, wǒ gāoxìng de yī wǎn shàng méi shuì.</span><span class="trans">After I heard this news, I was so happy I couldn't sleep the whole night.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== Differences ==
 
== Differences ==
  
Now you might be thinking, "But [[After a specific time|'以后' means afterwards]], why doesn't that work?" In this case, "以后" is just used to talk about [[In the future in general|the future in general]]. The meaning that you're probably thinking of comes from the first structure above.
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Now you might be thinking, "But [[After a specific time|以后 means afterwards]], why doesn't that work?" In this case, "以后" is just used to talk about [[In the future in general|the future in general]]. The meaning that you're probably thinking of comes from the first structure above.
  
 
=== 以后 ===
 
=== 以后 ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
以后,Comment
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以后 ,⋯⋯
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* <em>以后</em> 再 也 不 来 这里 吃饭 了 , 又 贵 又 难吃 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yǐhòu</em> zài yě bù lái zhèlǐ chīfàn le, yòu guì yòu nánchī. </span> <span class="trans">In the future I will never come to this place to eat again. It's expensive and the food is not good.</span>
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* <em>以后</em> 我 可能 会 去 国外 上 大学 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yǐhòu</em> wǒ kěnéng huì qù guówài shàng dàxué. </span> <span class="trans">In the future I might go to college abroad.</span>
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* <em>以后</em> 再 也 不 来 这里 吃饭 了 , 又 贵 又 难吃 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yǐhòu</em> zài yě bù lái zhèlǐ chīfàn le, yòu guì yòu nánchī.</span><span class="trans">In the future I will never come to this place to eat again. It's expensive and the food is not good.</span>
* <em>以后</em> 的 事情 <em>以后</em> 再 说 吧 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yǐhòu</em> de shìqing <em>yǐhòu</em> zài shuō bā.</span> <span class="trans">We'll talk about future things some time later.</span>
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* <em>以后</em> 我 可能 会 去 国外 上 大学 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yǐhòu</em> wǒ kěnéng huì qù guówài shàng dàxué.</span><span class="trans">In the future I might go to college abroad.</span>
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* <em>以后</em> 的 事情 <em>以后</em> 再 说 吧 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yǐhòu</em> de shìqing <em>yǐhòu</em> zài shuō bā.</span><span class="trans">We'll talk about future things some time later.</span>
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</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== 之后 ===
 
=== 之后 ===
  
Compared to "以后", "之后" is a little more free. Not only can it happen in the same place, [[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"|modifying the time]], but it can also appear just on its own, meaning something along the lines of "then." While "以后" is dependent on the time, "之后" can stand by itself.
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Compared to 以后, 之后 is a little more free. Not only can it happen in the same place, [[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"|modifying the time]], but it can also appear just on its own, meaning something along the lines of "then." While 以后 is dependent on the time, 之后 can stand by itself.
  
 
==== Structure ====  
 
==== Structure ====  
  
There is another structure that only works with "之后":
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
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Event 1 ,之后 + Event 2
Subj. + Event, 之后 + Action
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*我 要 先 回家 把 东西 放 下 , <em>之后</em> 去 咖啡店 找 你 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào xiān huí jiā bǎ dōngxi fàng xià, <em>zhīhòu</em> qù kāfēidiàn zhǎo nǐ.</span> <span class="trans">I'm going to go home and drop my stuff off first, then go to the cafe to look for you.</span>
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*我 要 先 回家 把 东西 放 下 ,<em>之后</em> 去 咖啡店 找 你 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào xiān huí jiā bǎ dōngxi fàng xià, <em>zhīhòu</em> qù kāfēidiàn zhǎo nǐ.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to go home and drop my stuff off first, then go to the cafe to look for you.</span>
*去年 夏天 他 来 过 我 家 , <em>之后</em> 再 也 没 见 他 。 <span class="pinyin">Qùnián xiàtiān tā lái guò wǒ jiā, <em>zhīhòu</em> zài yě méi jiàn dào tā.</span> <span class="trans">Last summer, he came to my house. After that, I haven't seen him.</span>
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*去年 夏天 他 来 过 我 家 ,<em>之后</em> 再 也 没 见 他 。 <span class="pinyin">Qùnián xiàtiān tā lái guò wǒ jiā, <em>zhīhòu</em> zài yě méi jiàn guo tā.</span><span class="trans">Last summer, he came to my house. After that, I haven't seen him.</span>
*房子 涨价 <em>之后</em> , 越 来 越 多 的 人 开始 买 房 。 <span class="pinyin">Fángzi zhǎngjià <em>zhīhòu</em>, Yuè lái Yuè duō de rén kāishǐ mǎi Fáng.</span> <span class="trans">After prices went up, more and more people started buying houses.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Right or Wrong ===
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== Right or Wrong ==
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 +
==== Examples ====
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
 
<li class="x">我 六 点 下班,<em>以后</em>,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。<span class="expl">Since there is nothing that "以后" modifies, this sentence doesn't work.</span></li>
 
<li class="x">我 六 点 下班,<em>以后</em>,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。<span class="expl">Since there is nothing that "以后" modifies, this sentence doesn't work.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 六 点 下班,<em>之后</em>,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。<span class="expl">"之后" works in this sentence.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ liù diǎn xiàbān, <strong> xiàbān</strong> <em> yǐhòu</em>, wǒ qù gēn péngyou chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">I will get off work at six o'clock, and after that I will meet with a friend to eat dinner.</span></li>
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<li class="o">我 六 点 下班,<em>之后</em>,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。<span class="expl">"之后" works in this sentence.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ liù diǎn xiàbān, <em>zhīhòu</em>, wǒ qù gēn péngyou chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">I will get off work at six o'clock, and after that I will meet with a friend to eat dinner.</span></li>
<li class="o">昨天 <strong>我 跟 朋友 吃饭</strong><em>以后</em>去 了 酒吧。<span class="trans">Yesterday, when my friends and I were done eating, we went to the bar.</span></li>
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<li class="o">昨天 <strong>我 跟 朋友 吃 完 饭</strong><em>以后</em>去 了 酒吧。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou chī wán fàn <em>yǐhòu</em> qù le jiǔbā.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday, when my friends and I were done eating, we went to the bar.</span></li>
<li class="x">昨天 我 跟 朋友 吃饭 了,<em>以后</em>,我们 去 酒吧。<span class="expl">Again, since there is nothing for "以后" to modify, it's a bad sentence.</span></li>
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<li class="x">昨天 我 跟 朋友 吃饭 了,<em>以后</em>,我们 去 酒吧。<span class="expl">Again, since there is nothing for "以后" to modify, it's a bad sentence.</span></li>
<li class="o">昨天 我 跟 朋友 吃饭 了,<em>之后</em>,我们 去 酒吧。<span class="expl">"之后" works in this sentence.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday I ate dinner with a friend, and afterward we went to a bar.</span></li>
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<li class="o">昨天 我 跟 朋友 吃饭 了,<em>之后</em>,我们 去 酒吧。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou qù chīfàn le, <em>zhīhòu</em>, wǒmen qù le jiǔbā.</span><span class="expl">"之后" works in this sentence.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday I ate dinner with a friend, and afterward we went to a bar.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 +
 
*[[After a specific time]]
 
*[[After a specific time]]
 
*[[In the future in general]]
 
*[[In the future in general]]
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*[[Comparing "yihou" and "houlai"]]
 
*[[Comparing "yihou" and "houlai"]]
  
==Sources and Further Reading==
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== Sources and Further Reading ==
'''NEEDS SOURCES'''
+
 
 +
=== Books ===
  
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
{{Basic Grammar|以后|B1|以后 vs 之后|我 昨天 跟 朋友 吃饭. 吃完 <em>以后</em> 去 超市. 之后 我们 回家 了 |grammar point|ASGC3SCN}}
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{{Basic Grammar|以后|B2|以后 vs. 之后|我 昨天 吃完 <em>以后</em> 去 超市 。之后 我 就 回家 了 |grammar point|ASGC3SCN}}
 
{{Rel char|之后}}
 
{{Rel char|之后}}
 
{{Similar|In the future in general}}
 
{{Similar|In the future in general}}
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{{Translation|later}}
 
{{Translation|later}}
 
{{Translation|after}}
 
{{Translation|after}}
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{{Translation|afterwards}}
 
{{Comparison|Time Words}}
 
{{Comparison|Time Words}}

Revision as of 08:14, 22 January 2018

If you are trying to explain what you did after a certain event, you might want to use "以后" (yǐhòu) or "之后" (zhīhòu). After all, they do both mean "after," right? Well, it turns out that there are a few rules that you need to be aware of before you use them.

Similarity

Both indicates another event happened after a special time. these two words share a structure, so it is easy to see how they would be easily confused. Here's the structure:

Structure

Subj. + Special Time + 以后/之后 + Verb

In situations where you have already done something and then after that you did something else, you can use "以后." The stipulation with this is that the time has to be explicitly said. That is, there has to be a time for "以后" to modify. Otherwise the sentence won't make sense.

Examples

  • 下 过 雨 以后/ 之后 空气 会 好 很 多 。Xià guo yǔ yǐhòu / zhīhòu kōngqì huì hǎo hěn duō.After it rains, the air will be a lot better.
  • 结婚 以后/ 之后他们 有 了 两 个 宝宝 。 Jiéhūn yǐhòu / zhīhòu tāmen yǒu le liǎng gè bǎobǎo.After getting married, they had two babies.
  • 等 我 涨 工资 以后/ 之后请 你 吃饭 。 Děng wǒ zhǎng gōngzī yǐhòu / zhīhòu qǐng nǐ chīfàn.After I get a raise, I will treat you to a meal.
  • 听到 这 个 消息 以后/ 之后 ,我 高兴 得 一 晚 上 没 睡 。 Tīngdào zhè gè xiāoxi yǐhòu / zhīhòu, wǒ gāoxìng de yī wǎn shàng méi shuì.After I heard this news, I was so happy I couldn't sleep the whole night.

Differences

Now you might be thinking, "But 以后 means afterwards, why doesn't that work?" In this case, "以后" is just used to talk about the future in general. The meaning that you're probably thinking of comes from the first structure above.

以后

Structure

以后 ,⋯⋯

Examples

  • 以后 再 也 不 来 这里 吃饭 了 , 又 贵 又 难吃 。 Yǐhòu zài yě bù lái zhèlǐ chīfàn le, yòu guì yòu nánchī.In the future I will never come to this place to eat again. It's expensive and the food is not good.
  • 以后 我 可能 会 去 国外 上 大学 。 Yǐhòu wǒ kěnéng huì qù guówài shàng dàxué.In the future I might go to college abroad.
  • 以后 的 事情 以后 再 说 吧 。 Yǐhòu de shìqing yǐhòu zài shuō bā.We'll talk about future things some time later.

之后

Compared to 以后, 之后 is a little more free. Not only can it happen in the same place, modifying the time, but it can also appear just on its own, meaning something along the lines of "then." While 以后 is dependent on the time, 之后 can stand by itself.

Structure

Event 1 ,之后 + Event 2

Examples

  • 我 要 先 回家 把 东西 放 下 ,之后 去 咖啡店 找 你 。 Wǒ yào xiān huí jiā bǎ dōngxi fàng xià, zhīhòu qù kāfēidiàn zhǎo nǐ.I'm going to go home and drop my stuff off first, then go to the cafe to look for you.
  • 去年 夏天 他 来 过 我 家 ,之后 再 也 没 见 过 他 。 Qùnián xiàtiān tā lái guò wǒ jiā, zhīhòu zài yě méi jiàn guo tā.Last summer, he came to my house. After that, I haven't seen him.

Right or Wrong

Examples

  • 我 六 点 下班,以后,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。Since there is nothing that "以后" modifies, this sentence doesn't work.
  • 我 六 点 下班,之后,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。"之后" works in this sentence.Wǒ liù diǎn xiàbān, zhīhòu, wǒ qù gēn péngyou chīfàn.I will get off work at six o'clock, and after that I will meet with a friend to eat dinner.
  • 昨天 我 跟 朋友 吃 完 饭以后去 了 酒吧。Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou chī wán fàn yǐhòu qù le jiǔbā.Yesterday, when my friends and I were done eating, we went to the bar.
  • 昨天 我 跟 朋友 去 吃饭 了,以后,我们 去 酒吧。Again, since there is nothing for "以后" to modify, it's a bad sentence.
  • 昨天 我 跟 朋友 去 吃饭 了,之后,我们 去 了 酒吧。Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou qù chīfàn le, zhīhòu, wǒmen qù le jiǔbā."之后" works in this sentence.Yesterday I ate dinner with a friend, and afterward we went to a bar.

See Also

Sources and Further Reading

Books

HSK5